By the 1911 census of England Daniel is a coal miner driver in the Durham coal mines. He followed his father into the mines.

After World War One broke out Daniel joined the 12th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers and became Private 10816. He arrived in France on 9th September 1915 and therefore became entitled to the 1914-15 Star as well as a British War and Victory Medals during World War One.

By 1919 Daniel had transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry as Private 52320. Daniel served with the Durham Light Infantry in India in a theatre called the North West Frontier. Daniel earned an India General Service Medal, 1908 and Clasp called “Afghanistan NWF 1919” for his service in the Third Afghan War during 1919. Daniel received his medal on 12th October 1922 at York, England.

Daniel transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. Early in 1930 Daniel was in Razmak which was then in India but now in Pakistan. Whilst in Razmak Daniel served as a Military Policeman.

Daniel was awarded a further 1930-31 North West Frontier Clasp. His medal was issued at Barackpore, India on 24th March 1934and received in 1935. By then Daniel was back with the Durham Light Infantry’s Depot in England. He was now Private 4438523 and continuing to serve in the Durham Light Infantry.

In 1937 Daniel was serving in China with the 1st Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. Daniel served in Tientsin and Shanghai where he remained until 1939.

One of the heroes of the battalion [1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry] is Private D. Lawlor. He is one of the “old soldiers,” having been in the service for 20 years. He wears a string of decorations, having served in the Great War, in India and in Shanghai ten years ago. He comes from Felling.

Daniel and the 1st Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry found themselves moving to the Western Desert via Hong Kong to join Wavell’s desert army.

Daniel Lawlor the 1st World War Veteran and a Veteran of several tours of India found himself caught up in the vicious battle for desert supremacy against, initially the Italians then later Rommel’s Africa Korps.

Daniel was killed in Egypt on the 21st April 1941. Aged 45 years Daniel Lawlor rests today in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. The circumstances of his death are unknown but it is believed he was killed in an accident.